Sports

Britain Prepares Athletes For Beijing's Humidity

BISHAM ABBEY, England (AP) ― The tranquil countryside of Royal Berkshire doesn't seem like the ideal location to prepare British athletes for the sapping heat and humidity of Beijing.

Nestling in it, though, is a chamber of secrets designed to give British Olympians the edge over their rivals.

The British Olympic Association has drawn on the country's military expertise in desert and jungle warfare to ensure medal hopefuls aren't restricted by the oppressive conditions expected in Beijing in August.

Unlike the choking pollution anticipated, heat cramps and exhaustion are problems that can be lessened with training. With scientists monitoring equipment, athletes ride on exercise bikes and rowing machines at the English Institute of Sport High Performance Centre some 30 miles west of London.

The humidity is set at 70 percent to simulate the environment of the Chinese capital. A selection of ice vests are used to lower body temperature.

The British have calculated that thermal stress can impact 90 percent of the performance of their athletes, who will be banned from sunbathing in China and at the pre-games training camp in Macau.

"With Beijing's prevailing conditions of high temperatures coupled with high humidity, the first priorities must be cooling and hydration and that is where we have concentrated our energies," said Scott Drawer of UK Sport. "With medals won by increasingly small margins, we have analyzed every factor that can affect the ability of our leading athletes to perform to their potential.

"Every games location brings with it its own set of special challenges and our job is to equip every sport with a tool kit that will allow them to meet those challenges head on."

Preparations for Beijing have been under way since the 2004 Athens Games when Britain's marathon favorite Paula Radcliffe dropped out because of dehydration.

Marco Cardinale, the Italian charged with science and research for the British Olympic Association, believes his training tool outstrips European rivals.

"We are at the same level as the Americans and Australians," Cardinale said emerging from the chamber's choking heat. "But we have some knowledge and solutions that are unique that will be unveiled during the games."

Cardinale's team has picked up tips from the Britain's Ministry of Defense in handling humid conditions, notably during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Everyone working on the project must sign confidentiality agreements.

"The army is a big source of research," Cardinale said. "They know how to perform highly complicated tasks in hot environments and we tap into their research to learn some lessons.

"We want to make sure athletes get there in the prepared condition possible and we've left no stone unturned with our preparations."

One thing that can't be simulated is Beijing's pollution, with ethical problems cited in recreating those conditions.

"There isn't much we can do," Cardinale said.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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